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Good Friday morning, Evanston.
Above, the aptly named Joseph Lumina on Tuesday replaces festoon lights above Dempster Street east of Chicago Avenue. He repaired a loose strand and planned to return to replace 40 burnt-out bulbs. (At This Time photo by Richard Cahan.)
Six plaintiffs filed a class action lawsuit Thursday against the City of Evanston, alleging that the city’s reparations program is unconstitutional. The six are represented by an attorney from Judicial Watch, a conservative group. The suit argues that by limiting reparations payments to eligible Black residents and their descendants, the city is discriminating against non-Black residents and descendants. The suit alleges that “tens of thousands” of people would qualify for $25,000 payments “but for the program’s race-based eligibility requirement.”
Northwestern President Michael Schill testified on Capitol Hill at a Thursday hearing of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, which called on him to explain his response to a pro-Palestinian encampment last month. Schill described the university’s rules and policies as “falling short,” and said he and his team plan to update the student code of conduct. Some Republicans accused Schill of yielding to antisemitism, while Democrats noted the “successful negotiation and de-escalation” of the encampment.
As Schill took the stand in D.C., a group of students and faculty involved in the encampment held a news conference outside Deering Meadow. “While we are here on Northwestern’s campus, no university stands in Gaza,” said one organizer. “They have all been destroyed by Israel.”
How local journalism’s decline hurts voter turnout
Juan Gonzalez, best known as the longtime co-host of the daily news program Democracy Now!, is an award-winning investigative reporter, author and, most recently, an Evanstonian. Mark Miller, vice president of the RoundTable board, interviewed Gonzalez to learn about his research on voting patterns in Chicago and how the decline of local journalism has affected turnout.
RoundTable weekend roundup
Friday: The Chicago Mental Health Film Showcase offers two local screenings: the first at 3:30 p.m. at Northwestern’s Annie May Swift Hall and the second at 7 p.m. at the Block Museum of Art.
Saturday: The first Evanston Rides! family-friendly bike ride of the summer departs at 10:15 a.m. from Raymond Park.
Saturday: Search for crafts, antiques and everything in between at the city’s flea market, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Robert Crown Community Center.
Monday: Evanston will honor those killed while serving our country in uniform at a Memorial Day ceremony at 10:30 a.m. in Fountain Square.
For more events, check out our Events Calendar.
More RoundTable reads
The city’s Land Use Commission on Wednesday unanimously endorsed a proposal for a co-housing development of seven townhome-style units at 1611 Church St., just north of Mason Park. The project now heads to City Council for final action.
For Memorial Day weekend:
• As noted above, there is a Memorial Day ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Monday in Fountain Square. There’s also a Mass at Calvary Cemetery.
• Columnist Peggy Tarr reflects on the holiday and offers safety advice.
• Some city services will be adjusted for the three-day weekend.
• City beaches open Saturday. (Beach passes are free for residents. New this year, the city is selling $5 “guest beach tickets” for those hosted by residents.)
Public Square
Here in Evanston: In her latest column, Mary Helt Gavin has an ETHS history lesson and some parting advice for the class of 2024. “The school you’re leaving may not really ever leave you,” she writes.
Bulletin board
Hair discrimination and the National Crown Act: An educational event for all on May 26. Celebrate National Crown Day – to combat hair discrimination against people of color – at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Robert Crown.
City to begin James Park bike path improvements in early June. The work will affect the southern portion of the bike path near Mulford Street and is expected to be done by early July.
Help wanted
Business Operations Manager: The RoundTable seeks a business operations manager to help run our fast-growing nonprofit news organization. Click here to view the job description.
Medill/RoundTable reporting fellowship: The RoundTable is partnering with Northwestern University to offer a one-year full-time reporting fellowship to cover race and social justice in Evanston. Click here to view the job description.
Photos from our readers
Paul Chasnoff captured the scene last Sunday as crews cleaned up after Northwestern’s Dillo Day music festival. Temporary flooring was washed and stacked for storage. Send us your photos for a chance to be included in this newsletter.
Around the web
Fifth annual Juneteenth celebration sees new additions to parade, festivities. Council Member Krissie Harris (2nd Ward) will be grand marshal at the parade on June 15, which will feature the ETHS marching band for the first time.
As cicadas emerge, nature lovers travel thousands of miles to converge on Illinois. Visitors from both coasts, and Canada, are hoping to experience the rare double emergence of both 17-year and 13-year cicadas, which is most likely to happen in central Illinois, near Springfield.
Piping Plovers In Love? Female Bird Joins Imani At Montrose Beach. Imani, the 3-year-old son of beloved Chicago plovers Monty and Rose, was seen alongside Sea Rocket, a female plover, Thursday morning.
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